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Off to a Great Start with New Marketing Plan!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with True Sarasota Real Estate

Off to a Great Start with New Marketing Plan!

As real estate leads the nations economic recovery, buyers are getting back into the market in unprecedented numbers causing home prices to appreciate. Eventually, this will lead to more properties coming to market as sellers are motivated by higher prices. This is already happening in the Sarasota real estate market, where unusually low inventory levels have kept local professionals scrambling.

This activity can only be good for the real estate industry as a whole and with this in mind, I decided to undertake a new marketing plan.

After analyzing where my business has come from over the last three years, I realized the most cost effective generator of quality leads(that actually became sales) is clearly my own websites. The biggest loser was the practice of buying leads, most of which were unqualified. So late last year, I decided to re-evaluate my marketing efforts and focus on building a new custom website for Lido Key Real Estate. Lido Key is a high-dollar barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, just off the coast of Sarasota, Florida.

My new mobile-friendly site launched last month and features a custom IDX property search, Lido Key real estate videos and the "Lido Key Cam", a live webcam on St. Armands Circle. Consumers stay on this site much longer, watching all the videos and checking out the tourists frolicking around on the webcam! I was surprised to find out that the property search is no longer the main attraction on my website.

As predicted, the new site is already generating substancial business. And instead of throwing money out the window, I now know I have invested solidly in the future of my career, so I can enjoy the finer things in life!

Finer things in life...

 

 

 

Comments (5)

Roger Stensland
Keller Williams Realty Puget Sound - Maple Valley, WA
Let's Move!

Thanks for the post.  Do you build your own websites or do you have someone else do it?

Mar 26, 2013 12:26 AM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Great information William.  Our area is not HOT but is very warm with prices inching up and sellers now in listing mode.

Mar 26, 2013 12:27 AM
Rich Antonino
Black Rose Fishing Charters and CastNCrew Fishing Show - Plymouth, MA
Charter Captain and Fishing Show Producer

Nice idea; webcam in a parking lot...hmmm....good idea to review from where biz is coming from...plus, it's more fun running a website...

Mar 26, 2013 12:30 AM
Dan Hopper
Dan Hopper - Gold Way RE - Westminster, CO
Colorado Broker / Referral Services

Way to go, William.  You have obviously chosen the right direction with this approach to generating leads!! 

Mar 26, 2013 02:04 AM
William True
True Sarasota Real Estate - Sarasota, FL
Sarasota Real Estate

Thank you all for your kind words.

Roger, our websites are built by Brilliant Agent, Inc

Apr 12, 2013 07:14 AM